NYT Dictionary

GLOOM

/ɡlum/
NounVerbGLOOMGrade 4

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

Darkness, dimness, or obscurity.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English *gloom, *glom, from Old English glōm (“gloaming, twilight, darkness”), from Proto-West Germanic *glōm, from Proto-Germanic *glōmaz (“gleam, shimmer, sheen”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰley- (“to gleam, shimmer, glow”). The English word is cognate with Norwegian glom (“transparent membrane”), Scots gloam (“twilight; faint light; dull gleam”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

An atmosphere of gloom descended on the assembled crowd.grievemournaggrievebesorrowcondoledarkenengrieveermegloom

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 8 recorded puzzles:

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